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Andy’s Fc 150

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Andy Weaver, Sep 25, 2020.

  1. Sep 25, 2020
    Andy Weaver

    Andy Weaver New Member

    Rancho Tehama, CA
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2020
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    46
    Well...I saw this beauty on Craigslist about 700 miles from my home. It had just two pictures, an asking price of just a little over two grand, and neither pic was flattering. But I kept coming back to look at this. Somehow my wife agreed to go on a road trip with me, and due to my Fresh knee surgery, she even drove! Pulling a trailer. Which she had never done before in her life. That’s a good wife. 30 years and she’s still surprising me.

    I thought I might adapt the cab to a cj5 frame I have, but when I got there, there were stacks and stacks of carefully dissembled, bagged and tagged parts, including the speedometer/odometer with 31000 original miles on the clock. The only thing it was missing was the original motor. He told me it had a small ford V8 in there, and shifted like crap. He had bought a’94 s10 and had started installing the whole driveline in there and found it was gonna be too long. I stuffed some bills in his hand, and loaded the poor Ram 150 and trailer to the gills. We detoured into Oregon on the way home just in time for massive fires to close I5 and K-Falls, so we backtracked. It was really a nice trip despite the smoke.

    Since it was now a stand alone project, and not gonna get a CJ 5 with Tj’s running gear, I wanted to build something unique. It was easier to start with what it wasn’t going to be—an off road monster. I’ve got one of those.
    I want to build:
    Reliable
    Mud, snow, rough dirt road Capable, but not a trail rig
    Comfortable as the platform will offer
    Pull my mildly lifted Scamp trailer camping in the Western States (1500 lbs loaded)

    To that end, I called Greg Margison at overland diesel about the Kubota conversions and the V2203. Since the FC150 is bigger and heavier than the early CJ platform, he recommended and procured a brand new Kubota 2403 turbo diesel. Nice! So the running gear, minus the diesel, will remain stock, a side shift T90 and stock transfer case.

    Not having an easy source of vacuum makes really good brakes critical. It looks like 11 inch drums are on the rear, and something smaller up front. I’m looking to fit Chevy calipers and the early seventies CJ master cylinder up front. I’ll work the 11” rears over in the back. And I have universal hot rod wiring kit from painless that is brand new, I think that and a 12 volt wiper system should work. The old harness is there for reference, whole but uninstalled.

    As far as the body goes, it is really straight and rust free. It has been painted twice, and boat carpet glued all over the cab, so stripping, rustproofing will be first. The original color appears to to be th early 60’s peacock blue. It will be that and white again. Color matched Raptorliner will be inside the bed and on the floor of the cab.

    So...I’m not an early CJ guy. I have a highly modified late CJ5, drove a Stock TJ for a while, And have a JK X with Rubi drivetrain and suspension. My question to the Early CJ Crowd is: what would YOU do to make it safe and reliable? Favorite brake mods, suspension ride improvements, shift linkage advice...wheels, tires (thinking white steel stock looking 16x7 with a medium skinny AT radial)...and does anything have to be done to the T90 to make it super reliable? What are the weak spots On the driveline? Oh! And seats! The ones that came with are in really good shape, but aren’t comfortable. Need a 5 to 7 hour seat....my *** is portly? And mamma is tiny. Do I need to reinforce the frame anywhere or box It?

    looking forward to your ideas! Thanks,
    Andy

    Andy's Awesome V2403T-DI '63 FC150 | Facebook
     
    bigbendhiker, Norcal69 and Rich M. like this.
  2. Sep 25, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    You might look into the Geo Tracker disk conversion. It's easier to find the parts these days than the earlier Chevy setup. There is a huge thread about it here: Geo Tracker/Suzuki Sidekick Disc Brake Solution For Early CJ5's

    Completely going through all the steering components will also be a requirement for safe operation. Some caster shims on the front axle can help a lot too.
     
    Andy Weaver likes this.
  3. Sep 25, 2020
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sheboygan
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    id make it simple as possible. dual MC and the metcalf disk brake conversion would be super easy, and a 4wheel disk jeep is a very rewarding thing, in and of itself.
    im not sure about that engine though. isnt it very heavy, compared to the 134 that the frame was designed to hold up?

    nice score, and good luck with the build. i love me some forward controls!
     
    Andy Weaver likes this.
  4. Sep 25, 2020
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
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    1,188
    This is awesome. Is there a page to follow on facebook or do I just have to friend you? lol. I've got 4 of these things, and am planning a Perkins diesel swap in the hopefully near future. Just procured a wide track chassis last month to be the foundation for this build. I didn't want to start the build using a narrow track chassis and the smaller axles.

    One thing I would suggest, especially with a diesel, is an overdrive. The diesels have such a narrow RPM range, that you either have to gear them really tall to get any decent speed without blowing up the engine, or install an overdrive. Disc up front and drum in the rear is a good goal, but you'll have to stay mindful of your wheel choice, as alot of the older stock wheels won't fit over the calipers, and you'll want to make sure the rear counterweight is in place so you don't end up on your nose.

    These rigs are oddballs, they share some parts with the CJ's, but alot of other parts are one offs for the FC and difficult to make other stuff fit and look right. I'd probably look into modifying the existing steering column for electric power steering, rather than try to adapt a regular power box to the chassis/column and finding a pump for the engine.

    Looks like you have a great starting point with this one!!
     
  5. Sep 26, 2020
    Andy Weaver

    Andy Weaver New Member

    Rancho Tehama, CA
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2020
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    46
    The 2.44 liter diesel weighs about 400 pounds.
     
  6. Sep 26, 2020
    Andy Weaver

    Andy Weaver New Member

    Rancho Tehama, CA
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2020
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    46
    Going through the front end is a sure thing. In another life, back in the mid to late 80’s, I was a front end and brake mechanic. A geo setup is surely an option. I have read two threads on that. How many degrees of caster is about right?
     
  7. Sep 26, 2020
    Andy Weaver

    Andy Weaver New Member

    Rancho Tehama, CA
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2020
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    46
    Thanks for the list. I’m definitely wanting a 16” wheel, white steel stock looking, about 7” wide. Not sure of the backspacing. It is on some old 31 10.50 15 tires right now, and they clear the wheel well, so I’m going to look at some 245 or 255 75/16s should be close. There are a few old school steel wheel manufactures left, and that kinda wheel would be between $150 and 190 if I have to order some. I’m gonna try Armstrong steering first, then look at the upgrades...

    Perkins are cool. I remember looking at a Perkins CJ in the shop back in the day.

    is there a consensus on brand and type of overdrive? Best gear ratio for axels?

    and I did get the rear weight. Boy do I hate the thought of lugging it around though. Was thinking of making a receiver winch in the rear and moving less weight farther back. Put a receiver up front and can switch it end to end.

    I’ve never heard of the electric assist but I’ll look!
     
  8. Sep 26, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    5-6 degrees.
     
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  9. Sep 27, 2020
    Andy Weaver

    Andy Weaver New Member

    Rancho Tehama, CA
    Joined:
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    I know seats are a huge subjective thing, but if I can get the reliability nailed, and highway speeds (55-60) out of the overdrive, we will be using it for vacations. That means five to six hours in the saddle. I’m a pretty good sized guy, @ two fitty, and mamma pretty small at a buck and a quarter. What are people loving for seats these days?
     
  10. Sep 27, 2020
    jeepstar

    jeepstar Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sheboygan
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    Id try a lowback cj seat. The originals are too tall IMO, and after an hour or so get uncomfortable.
     
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  11. Oct 1, 2020
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
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    The only option available for Overdrive would be to find a used or rebuilt Warn OD, or a New Saturn OD from Advance adapters. AA bought the tooling and rights from Warn so they are essentially the same part. You may need spacers to clear discs with a stock looking wheel, but maybe not. Not the end of the world either way. I have 4.27 gears in my CJ-6 with the Perkins, with an OD. It works pretty well, but you're kicking it out of OD at any incline. I wouldn't probably change gears if the ones that are in it are still in good shape until you get some time behind the wheel. You may find that 60-65 is as fast as you feel safe going anyways.

    Electric power steering is available on some cars and there are guys pretty easily adapting it to the older highboy Ford trucks that only had a manual box option. The manual box stays in place. And the electric somehow mounts to the shaft between the wheel and the box. The guys that have done it say it's amazing, but I don't have any experience with it... yet.

    You're gonna want that weight in the back. No question about it.
     
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  12. Oct 1, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Another option for power steering is to go to a linkage mounted cylinder and using a vintage Mustang or Corvette servo valve. This takes all the load off the original steering box and drag link. Several member on the site have done it:

    Ted's Steering Upgrade, With A Twist

    Garage Gnome is building one now using and in-line servo valve. It looks like it will be a really clean setup:

    Project Snowshoe

    These would be pretty easy to adapt to an FC. I'd be a little worried about and electric assist between the wheel and the steering box. It just puts more load on the stock parts that wear too quickly already.
     
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  13. Oct 2, 2020
    Andy Weaver

    Andy Weaver New Member

    Rancho Tehama, CA
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    Good points. 60/65 is plenty enough. I’m fixing to open up the t90 and transfer, just to see what it looks like in there I drained the oil, no water, but there was water in between the old Transdapt Ford adapter and the t90 case, better now on the bench than later on the road. And the weight....I’ll take the voice of experience. Thanks.
     
  14. Oct 2, 2020
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
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    That's kinda funny to me. It's basically the same power assist steering stuff the highboy Ford guys are trying to get rid of with the electric power steering. I've had OK luck with mine, but it's not that great of assist, and it's usually a leaky mess after awhile.
     
  15. Oct 2, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    I could see that on the Ford trucks. They have much better base steering gear/linkage setup than the fast wearing mess that's on these old Jeeps.
     
  16. Oct 2, 2020
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
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    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Oct 2, 2020
  17. Oct 2, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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  18. Oct 2, 2020
    jeepermc

    jeepermc Active Member

    Western WA
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    See! lol
     
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  19. Oct 2, 2020
    Andy Weaver

    Andy Weaver New Member

    Rancho Tehama, CA
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    So....This is the MC and pedal assembly out of the FC150. Any chance of a dual reservoir or two stage position MC fitting this?
     
  20. Oct 2, 2020
    Andy Weaver

    Andy Weaver New Member

    Rancho Tehama, CA
    Joined:
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    Hmmmm. On the introduction thread, I was uploading pics through the “upload a file button at the bottom of the reply box. I noticed that this section only has “post reply” and “more options” Is the “upload a file” button an option we can turn on and off?
     
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